NTSB offers first replace on Brooklyn Bridge ship crash

The Nationwide Transportation Security Board gave an replace Monday on the Mexican navy ship that crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge over the weekend. 

The Nationwide Transportation Security Board began their remarks by expressing their condolences of the 2 sailors who died within the incident. 

“That is the beginning of a protracted course of. We won’t be drawing any conclusions. We won’t speculate. We will even not be figuring out the possible trigger whereas we’re on scene,” Michael Graham of the NTSB mentioned. “We’re right here to assemble perishable proof, and that is what we can be doing the entire time we are going to on scene. And that’ll take as many days because it must be.”

Graham mentioned the preliminary report could be accessible in about 30 days. 

The NTSB mentioned their investigation will embrace the crew, the vessel, and the environmental circumstances on the time of the collision.

The NTSB requested members of the general public contact them if they’ve video of the incident that they e mail them at witness@ntsb.gov simply to tell them of the video, and they’re going to then present a hyperlink for that video to be uploaded. 

Officers supplied the next timeline of the incident, which they mentioned started when the ship pulled away from the dock, aspiring to sail down the East River to move for the ocean.

• 8:20 p.m. – the ship started backing away with the help of a tugboat
• 8:24 p.m. – there was a request for help from different tugboats 
• 8:24 p.m. – 45 seconds later, the ship struck the Brooklyn Bridge
• 8:27 p.m. – the ship got here to a cease
• 8:30 p.m. – FDNY and NYPD property have been on the scene 

Officers have decided the bridge is secure. 

The NTSB hasn’t but begun interviewing members of the crew of the 300-foot lengthy, three masted ship. The NTSB mentioned it’s working with the Mexican authorities to achieve entry to the ship and see if it had any recorders. 

NTSB officers mentioned they’d be trying on the standing of the engines, and hope to speak to the crew about them. 

NTSB investigators began accumulating proof Sunday to piece collectively what occurred. The Coast Guard helped transfer the ship to security, however business water visitors stays suspended within the space. 

In the meantime, folks have been leaving flowers and candles at Pier 36 on the Decrease East Facet to pay tribute to the crew members. 

2 killed in Brooklyn Bridge ship crash

Witnesses mentioned the crew wrapped up a ceremonial departure shortly earlier than 8:30 p.m. Saturday at South Avenue Seaport. Because the Cuauhtémoc ship took off for Iceland, it crashed into the bridge. 

Video confirmed all three masts snap off, leaving some crew members dangling from harnesses and holding onto wires. 

New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams mentioned on social media the ship misplaced energy earlier than the crash.   

Officers mentioned 277 folks have been on board, two folks have been killed and 19 have been injured. Authorities recognized one sufferer as 20-year-old cadet América Yamilet Sánchez.

“I deeply remorse the passing of Veracruz cadet América Yamilet Sánchez. My love, help, and solidarity exit to her household,” the governor of Veracruz, Rocio Nahle, wrote in Spanish on social media.

The second sufferer has been recognized as Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, in line with Mexican authorities. 

Sanchez’s relations spoke out Sunday as they mourned their loss, holding on to photographs of her and one another. Her aunt questioned why the Mexican navy hasn’t finished extra to convey the household to New York to get better her physique. One other member of the family referred to as the movies illogical, including it ought to’ve by no means occurred. 

Maritime consultants says it’s typically customary for sailors to face in formation on the vessel’s yards when leaving a harbor, which is what’s believed to be what was occurring because the crash passed off. 

What else will investigators take a look at?

“Had been the anchors able to be let go? That is one factor. If the engine continued to go astern, then is there a process for shutting down the engine? In most ships, there are,” mentioned Capt. James Staples, a maritime skilled not concerned within the crash. 

Mexico’s consulate basic mentioned the ship is the nation’s ambassador of excellent will, and the nation is offering help to the crew. The consulate nonetheless referred us to the Mexican navy for the investigation, and we now have but to listen to again. 

DHS says Schumer ought to “get his details straight”

The U.S. Division of Homeland Safety has responded to Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer’s issues about whether or not cuts by the Division of Authorities Effectivity, or DOGE, might have been an element within the incident. The DHS mentioned in a social media put up the senator’s questions of a hiring freeze and insufficient staffing are “false.”

“The US Coast Guard has been totally supported and been exempt from hiring freezes. Moreover, this incident had nothing to do with Vessel Visitors Providers— when a ship loses propulsion in a excessive present space, the vessel wants to have interaction all capabilities to cease and ideally tugs are close by to help,” the put up learn. “We encourage Minority Chief Schumer to get his details straight earlier than he misleads the American folks.”

Throughout his weekly press briefing Sunday morning, Schumer defined the Coast Guard has a system referred to as automobile visitors service, or VTS, which is analogous to FAA air visitors management. 

“There are indications that this service referred to as the VTS might not have been totally or adequately practical in mild of that hiring freeze. We do not know the reply to that query. We’d like solutions. If this have been the case, Brooklyn Bridge accident could possibly be a nationwide harbinger, demanding speedy consideration,” he mentioned. 

Schumer pointed to Admiral Linda Fagan being relieved of her duties as commandant of the Coast Guard on Jan. 21. 

“Moreover, the present hiring freeze on the Division of Homeland Safety, DHS, which the Coast Guard is a part of, might have restricted the flexibility of the Coast Guard to totally employees up on the VTS, the automobile visitors service, the shore-wide system that gives quote air visitors management for the seas, particularly in congested areas and restricted waters like New York Harbor,” he mentioned. 

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a press release Sunday saying the VTS “was totally practical through the incident, working in accordance with established procedures to handle business visitors and facilitate secure navigation. Our response included launching a crew from Station New York, establishing a brief security zone, and coordinating with NYPD, FDNY, and NYC DOT.”